S2 EP12: 20 Years of the Good Friday Agreement

The 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement highlights the delicate balance between political progress and the enduring legacy of intergenerational trauma in Northern Ireland. Negotiator David Donoghue details the intense, high-stakes final hours of the 1998 talks, emphasizing the necessity of personal rapport among leaders like Tony Blair, Bertie Ahern, and David Trimble. Meanwhile, author Kerry Ní Dochartaigh provides a visceral account of growing up in Derry during the Troubles, illustrating how sectarian violence and displacement shape individual identity and physical well-being. The discussion underscores that while the agreement established a framework for peace, current political instability and the impact of Brexit continue to challenge the region. Healing requires moving beyond institutional solutions toward acknowledging the profound, lasting effects of conflict on families and communities across the island.